Present there on invitation were Ri Yong Ho, minister of Foreign Affairs, So Ho Won, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and other officials concerned.

Attending it were staff members of the Syrian embassy.

In his speech at the reception, the Syrian ambassador referred to the undying exploits of Kim Jong Il who firmly protected the sovereignty and dignity of the DPRK and laid a strong foundation for the building of a powerful socialist country with his unique Songun politics.

The Syria-DPRK relations forged by the preceding leaders have continued to develop under the care of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, said the ambassador, wishing the friendly Korean people fighting against the world imperialists in the first line greater progress and prosperity.

The DPRK foreign minister said that Syrian friends' celebration of the Day of the Shining Star together with the Korean people every year is an expression of boundless reverence for Kim Jong Il and the will of the leadership of Syria to boost the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries forged by the preceding leaders.

The DPRK government will as ever extend invariable support and encouragement to the righteous struggle of the Syrian government and people to smash the aggression moves of the U.S. imperialists and Zionists and defend the sovereignty, stability and territorial integrity of the country, he added.